Going to the gym can be daunting - especially when you are first starting out. The chain of ladies-only Curves gyms specialise in taking the fear out of work outs.

This month, Curves in Lincoln was named best in the country, beating 64 other gyms. Danielle Hoe spoke to manager Karen Dixon to find out the secrets of her success...

For Karen Dixon, when it comes to business, what you give back is just as important as what you get out.

And this month her fitness business was rewarded for its contribution to the community.

Curves of Lincoln was named Club of The Month and Karen said their success is down to the charity events it holds.

"We won purely because of all the charity events that we have hosted and the events that we put on for our members," she said.

Karen showing some exercises

"The national Curves bosses look at your club's Facebook page and all the work that you're doing. We won the accolade this time around simply because we go above and beyond for our members."

Since Karen took over at Curves, the team has raised money for the breast clinic at Lincoln County Hospital and Breast Cancer UK. They have taken part in various fundraising events including a fashion show, the Santa fun run and the colour dash.

In July they also have a team competing in the St Barnabas It's a Knockout contest at Washingborough. Curves Lincoln has also been helping Lorena from This Girl Can Lincolnshire in her goal to complete the Great North Run.

The club arranges events to help create a community feel among members and has already staged theatre trips, comedy nights, Christmas shopping trip to Meadowhall, pamper nights, ghost walk, bowling and an aloe vera information night.

Inside Curves in Lincoln

Karen moved to North Hykeham from Boston with her husband 10 years ago. She had worked in the health sector for 16 years and was a manger at Holland and Barratt before moving to work with Lloyds Pharmacy.

She explained: "Around six years ago I had to help my husband with his leaflet distribution, and that's when I discovered Curves in Lincoln."

Curves is a fitness facility especially designed for women. The company believes many women feel uncomfortable exercising in the presence of men, which keeps them from joining traditional gyms. Curves was designed to allow women to exercise in the comfort and camaraderie of a club designed exclusively for them.

She continued: "I was a member of Curves in Hykeham until it closed down so when I stumbled across Curves in Lincoln in Dean Road I was thrilled. I was a member for about a year, and then my husband and I got the idea of trying to re-open the one in Hykeham, so I went to speak to the manager at the Lincoln to explain that I wasn't trying to step on her toes.

Outside Curves Lincoln

"But she told me that she actually wanted to sell. So we jumped on the opportunity and had to go through our curves qualifications. Since being there we've spent £20,000 doing it up, we've installed showers and spruced up the reception areas.

Karen moved to Lincolnshire from the London area when she was 17 for university at the Boston campus of De Montfort University, it was there she met her husband.

"It's the best thing I ever did moving to Lincoln, I absolutely love the place. We've been running the club for around 10 months now and have managed to double the member figures to 292 members."

Curves offers classes in legs bums and tums, Curves boxing and Zumba and it also offers strength training which is a 30 minute work out.

Curves Lincoln taking part in the Colour Dash

Karen added: "It's great to see all the ladies progressing, they really are an inspiration. We want to make a real community feel and we know all of our members by name, and we greet them that way when they come in. I feel that Curves is a facility that offers everything a woman could ever want from support and a listening ear to a community they can feel part of.

"I have seen many ladies with varying degrees of health, many with very limited mobility and mental health issues. One lady who has always and still is an inspiration to me is my Nan. She was a very strong and independent lady running around after everyone. Every time I would phone her she would tell me what her latest adventure was.

"I like to think that I have some of her nurturing ways living inside of me and want not just myself but every lady to be able to live the kind of fulfilling active life she had."

Opening of Curves Lincoln

Within Karen's family there is a common line of heart problems and cancer. Karen's Grandad died of a heat attack whilst watching the boxing on the TV and left her Nan a widow at 52. Her dad suffered a heart attack at the age of 45 and her uncle has sleep apnoea and narcolepsy.

Her mum has been clear of breast cancer for two years, but her aunt died of breast cancer and her cousin was diagnosed at the age of 34.

Karen said:"With all of these conditions running through the family I wanted to be the best version of myself that I could be. So two years ago I started on a weight loss and fitness journey.

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"Over that two years I have gone from just sitting down doing the bare minimum needed to get through the day to losing four stone and being able to run 5k. Now if you’d told me 2 years ago you will be running without gasping for breath I would have said you’re mad.

"The difference I have seen in myself due to the benefits of strength training are amazing. Not only have I gained confidence and toned up, to the point I actually wore a bikini on holiday in 2016 for the first time ever, but health wise I am not relying on my reliever inhaler for my Asthma.

"In fact the only time I use the inhaler now is if I’ve got a cold. My daughter loves the fact that I can go on the trampoline with her and join her on the swings and seesaw at the local park.

Karen Dixon

All of my adult life I have yo-yoed with my weight but now feel with the help of Curves I have found a way to stop that vicious circle.

"I would like to end by saying a big thank you to all of the members at Curves Lincoln, you are all such an inspiration to me and make all of the hard work worth it."